Common Telephone Queries

Visa Matters

Question 1: - How do I apply for an E-visa to India?

Answer:- Please note E Tourist Visa is not handled by the Indian Missions abroad. Please note that e-visa is issued for a maximum period of 60 days meant for only Tourist, Business and Medical purposes. Please see website for information and completion of online application https://indianvisaonline.gov.in/evisa/tvoa.html For more information, please contact their helpdesk.

Question 5:- Can I send my application directly to the High Commission of India?

Answer:- No, Visa service has been outsourced to the VFS Global.

Question 6:- Can I confirm all my travel bookings before getting the visa?

Answer:- No, please don’t book your travel tickets until a visa decision has been made.

Question 7:- How we will check the Visa status?

Answer:- You can receive an automated SMS and email at important stages of your visa application if you have opted for this service while submitting the application. You will be notified when the application process is complete. You may send an email at info.london@hcilondon.in . Please include details such as full name, the Center you have applied through, your passport number, date of birth.

Question 8:- While filling the application by mistake I enter wrong details, can I fill new application?

Answer:- Yes. Since Visa application is online, the information filled during the online registration process will appear on the Visa.

Answer:- Please apply on line (www.indianvisaonline.gov.in) and then take out a print of the application and submit it alongwith requisite documents, photos, emergency visa fees etc, in person at the High Commission of India, Aldwych, London, from 1000 hrs to 1730 hours on any working day and from 1000 hours to 1700 hrs during holidays. Application for Emergency Visa should be supported with documents from India like Death Certificate, Medical certificate of Hospital/Doctor certificate etc. For more information, Please refer to https://www.hcilondon.in/. Applicant can also call at 020 76323035 or 07768 765 035.

3. Attestation of Documents for Making Application for Allotment of Direct Identification Number,

4. Attestation of Documents for Making Application for Allotment of Permanent Account Number (PAN) in respect of UK Based Companies or Individuals,

5. Police Clearance certificate,

6. NRI Certificate / NRI Parity Certificate,

7. Attestation Copy of Indian Passport or any Other Miscellaneous Certificate (s) based on Indian Passport,

8. Attestation of Sponsorship Letter for Visit of a Person from India to the UK,

9. Certificate for Transporting Human Ashes/ Human Remains to India.

ii. Please submit applications at the Consular Section of the High Commission of India, India House, Aldwych, London WC2B 4NA in person with prior online appointment between 0930hrs and 1300hrs on all working days for following services:

1. Attestation related to Power of Attorney/Affidavit relating to Civil matters,

2. Attestation of Power of Attorney / Affidavit relating to Property/ Financial matters,

3. Execution of Will/Gift Deed,

4. Life Certificate for Pension Purpose or for any Other Purpose,

5. Certificate for Transporting Dead Bodies to India,

6. Sworn Affidavit for issuance of passport to a minor child residing in India,

7. Birth registration of Children eligible for Indian nationality,

8. Solemnization/Registration of Marriage under the Foreign Marriage Act, 1969.

For details on submission process of application (s) for the above-mentioned consular services and for other procedural and documentation requirements, please see website https://www.hcilondon.in.

iii. In case of emergent assistance required viz death of an Indian national, next of kin/applicant can call at 020 76323035 or 0 7768 765 035.

Question 1:- How to book an appointment?

Answer:- Please refer to the website www.hcilondon.in and the link is given on our home page in blue rectangular box. (https://www.vfsvisaservice.com/IHC-UK-Appointment/AppScheduling/AppWelcome.aspx)

Question 2:- How will check the status of Child Birth registration Certificate?

Answer:- Please send the email on info.london@hcilondon.in with applicant’s name, date of birth and receipt number (GBRLC).

Question 5:- If witnesses won’t come for the Power Of Attorney, what we have to do?

Answer:- If witnesses are unable to come then there passport copies should be notarised through Notary public and brought along.

Question 6:-What is the procedure to Attest Indian Marriage certificate?

Answer:- Birth/Death/Marriage/Educational Certificates etc. issued by authorities in India need to be Apostilled in India (for details, please visit Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India web link: http://mea.gov.in/apostille.htm) if they are to be presented before the authorities in the UK or before the authorities of the countries that are members of the Hague 'Apostille' Convention of 1961. No further attestation or legalization of such Apostilled documents is required from the High Commission of India in London However, the High Commission of India in London can counter attest a document that has been attested by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Government of India or by any of the MEA’s authorized Branch Secretariats in India if the document in question is to be presented before the Missions/ Posts (in the United Kingdom) of countries, which are not members of the Hague ‘Apostille’ Convention of 1961 and where Apostille is not accepted.

Question 7:- What is the procedure to get the copy of Indian birth certificate from High Commission of India?

Answer:- There is no provision to issue Marriage/Birth certificate in the High Commission of India for its occurrence in India. You may like to approach the concerned local authority in India.

Answer:- Documents issued by UK authorities are to be Apostilled/attested by FCO. If required, it may be further counter attested by the High Commission of India. Please visit the procedures for counter attestation of such documents at http://www.vfsglobal.com/India/UK/Attestation_Documents.html and submit the application accordingly at VFS Global.

OCI Matters

Question 1- What is the procedure and eligibility to apply for an OCI?

Answer:- Please apply online at http://passport.gov.in/oci/ and submit physically print of application, specified photos, documentation, fees at the VFS Centre with prior online appointment. The service of OCI is outsourced to VFS Global Services by HCI London. For information, please visit link http://www.vfsglobal.com/India/UK/. You can also call their helpline at 02037938629 or 02037884666.

Question 2:-What are the documents that one needs to submit for applying OCI?

Answer:- The complete documentation checklist depending on different application basis can be viewed at the website http://www.vfsglobal.com/India/UK/.

Question 3:- What is the status of my OCI application ?

Answer:- Applicants can check the status of their application on the link https://passport.gov.in/oci/statusEnqury. When the OCI application has been processed and is ready for collection, please follow collection procedure given in VFS Website: http://www.vfsglobal.com/india/uk/OCI.html. Applicant can also email at info.london@hcilondon.inwith the applicant’s full name, Date Of Birth, Passport number, OCI file acknowledgement number to know the status.

Question 4:- How can I apply for Nativity Certificate?

Answer:- The Nativity certificate is to be applied directly in India with the District authorities of place of birth. Application for the same can be obtained from http://www.vfsglobal.com/India/UK/.

Question 5:- What is the processing time of application?

Answer:- The Processing time is 6-8 weeks if the application has been submitted accurately. Any delay beyond the specific time frame cannot be ruled out owing to certain technical reasons. All applicants are advised to book their travel plan only after obtaining the OCI.

Question 6:- Is it mandatory to have a Life Long Visa Sticker (OCI) in the foreign Passport?

Answer:- No, the life Long Visa Sticker process has been discontinued by the Government of India. Applicants are required to carry Valid OCI Card with current foreign passport (endorsed on the OCI Booklet).

Question 7:- Can I still use my PIO card to travel to India?

Answer:- PIO card holders can travel to India on PIO provided the exit journey from India is by October 31, 2018. All the PIO Card holders are advised to convert their PIO to OCI by applying through VFS Global Service. For more details, please see link http://www.vfsglobal.com/India/UK/.

Question 8:-Is it mandatory to transfer OCI to your latest passport whenever your passport gets renewed below the age of 20 or above the age of 50?

Answer:- Re-issuance of OCI is mandatory every time passport is renewed up to the age of 20 years, and once after completing 50 years of age in view of frequent biological changes in facial features in this age group. Please view the full requirements for re-issue of OCI at the following link http://www.vfsglobal.com/India/UK/pdf/GuidelinesOCI.pdf

Question 9:- How to apply for Transfer of OCI from old to new passport/Change in nationality/loss or damage of OCI booklet or passport/Change of Personal Particulars?

Answer:- You are required to apply through OCI Miscellaneous services for all the above. For detailed application procedure, please visit link http://www.vfsglobal.com/India/UK/. You can also call them at 02037938629 or 02037884666.

Indian Passport/Surrender of Indian Passport.

Question 1:- How to apply for Passport Renewal/New Passport/Lost and Damaged Passport?

Answer:- Applicants are required to complete online application at https://embassy.passportindia.gov.in/ and submit print of application, photos, documentation, fees etc at the VFS Centre with prior online appointment. Please see detailed information at http://www.vfsglobal.com/India/UK/.

Question 2:- I want to know about the status of my passport application?

Answer:- To know the status of your application, please drop us an email at info.london@hcilondon.in with the applicant’s full name, Date Of Birth, Passport number, Receipt No. etc.

Question 3:- What is the normal processing time for passport applications?

Answer:- Processing times vary for different categories. For details, please visit link in.vfsglobal.co.uk

Question 4:- What passport services are offered by the Indian Visa & Consular Application Centre in UK?

Answer. The following five services are offered:

Re-issue of passport on expiry of full validity passport or on exhaustion of pages or change of name/surname/signature or change/addition/deletion of name of spouse or change of address.

Re-issue of short validity passport.

Issue of fresh passport in lieu of lost/stolen/damaged passport.

Issue of first time passport to a new born child in the UK.

Question 5:- What procedure is to be followed for issue of a first time passport for a newborn child in UK?

Answer:- Birth of the child is required to be registered with the High Commission of India, London as a prelude to applying an Indian Passport, for details visit link https://www.hcilondon.in/pages.php?id=34 . For details on applying passport, please visit VFS link in.vfsglobal.co.uk. Online application is required to be completed at https://embassy.passportindia.gov.in/.

Question 6:-Can I submit my application by post?

Answer:- No postal application are accepted. You are required to submit the application in person at the VFS counter as biometric formalities need to be fulfilled.

Question 7:-Till what time Passport could be submitted for reissue before the date of expiry?

Answer:- The passport can be submitted for re-issue up to one year before the date of expiry.

Question 8:- Can I apply for additional Pages in my passport/apply for additional Booklet?

Answer.. Applicants are required to apply for a new passport due to exhaustion of pages and complete online application https://embassy.passportindia.gov.in/. There is no facility to add more pages or avail an additional booklet

Question 9:- Can my child (minor) travel on my Passport?

Answer:- All minors are required to have a separate passport. Old practice of including a child’s name in the Passport of either of the parents has been discontinued.

Question 10:- How can I apply for Emergency Travel Document/Voluntary Departure?

Answer:- The application form is the same form meant for passport services. The procedure followed is the same as the one meant for issue of a new passport in lieu of lost/stolen/damaged passport. For details, please see http://www.vfsglobal.com/India/UK/. Applicant should complete online application at https://embassy.passportindia.gov.in/.

Question 11:- Can I retain my Indian passport for travel after acquiring a foreign nationality?

Answer:- No. On acquiring foreign nationality, the Indian Passport should be surrendered at the nearest Indian Visa & Consular Application Centre.

Question 12:- How to apply for Surrender of Indian Passport?

Answer:- The Surrender of Indian Passport service has been outsourced to VFS global services. For details, please visit link http://www.vfsglobal.com/India/UK/. You can also call their helpline at 02037938629 or 02037884666.

Question 13:- Can I use my Indian Passport to travel after naturalisation?

Answer:- There is a grace period of three months after acquisition of foreign nationality (to be counted from the date of registration / Naturalisation Certificate and not from the receipt/issue of foreign passport) for using Indian passport for travel. But the grace period is not applicable once the British/Foreign Passport is acquired, he/she should travel only on the British/Foreign passport once the same is obtained even if he/she is within the grace period of three months.

Question 14:- What happens if I use my Indian Passport to travel after the grace period/after acquisition of Foreign/British Passport or avails any service on the same?

Answer:- After acquisition of foreign nationality, no Indian passport related service is granted. However, if the applicant fraudulently takes any passport related service (such as renewal of passport, change of name etc.) or uses the passport for travel after the grace period of three months from the date of naturalisation, he/she is liable to pay penalty etc as per Government of India Passport Rules.

Question 15:- How much is the penalty for misusing Indian Passport?

Answer:- Please refer to the VFS website http://www.vfsglobal.com/India/UK/ to know about the penalty/fees and retention charges related to surrender of Indian Passport.

Question 16:- Can I keep both my Indian and Foreign/British Nationality?

Answer:- No. The Indian Citizenship Act, 1955, does not allow dual citizenship. Holding Indian Passport / acquiring Indian Passport / travelling on Indian passport after acquisition of foreign Citizenship constitutes an offence under the Indian Passport Act, 1967, and attracts penalties.